Japan was struck by the catastrophe just three weeks after the earthquake
which devastated Christchurch in New Zealand and killed hundreds.

However, other experts denied that supermoons are responsible for these
apocalyptic events.

TV weatherman John Kettley said: “A moon can’t cause a geological event
like an earthquake, but it will cause a difference to the tide. If that
combines with certain weather conditions then that could cause a few
problems for coastal areas.”

Pete Wheeler, of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy, explained: “There
will be no earthquakes or volcanoes erupting, unless they are to happen
anyway.

“The Earth will experience just a lower than usual low tide and a higher
than usual high tide around the time of the event, but nothing to get
excited about.”